Abstract
BACKGROUND: Access to reliable exposure data is critical for conducting risk assessments of ingredients in cosmetic products. Cosmetic usage patterns, including product types, user percentages, daily product numbers, amounts, and frequency of use, can vary significantly across regions, countries, and populations. Therefore, obtaining comprehensive cosmetic usage data and establishing a robust database of exposure parameters are essential for accurately assessing the exposure levels of cosmetic ingredients. PROBLEM STATEMENT: Despite the critical need for exposure data, a systematic review analyzing existing survey approaches and methodologies for cosmetic usage has been lacking. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare cosmetic usage patterns across different regions and countries, systematically summarize survey approaches and methodologies, and obtain accurate and effective cosmetic exposure assessment parameters to facilitate the risk assessment of cosmetic products. METHODS: A systematic review approach was used following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed and CNKI databases were retrieved in April 2025 for articles published between 2005 and 2025. With a total of 38 publications deemed relevant based on the established inclusion criteria, the following information was extracted: type of study, characteristics of the population (number, age, sex, and region of origin), period of data collection, types of products studied, methods of data collection, and consumption and/or exposure parameters obtained. RESULTS: This study reviews surveys on cosmetics consumer exposure parameters conducted by the European Union, the United States, and some Asian countries over the past few decades. It analyzes the differences in research on cosmetics usage patterns across these regions/countries and summarizes domestic and international investigation approaches for cosmetic consumption surveys, including their advantages, disadvantages, and appropriate applications. The results demonstrated the current status of cosmetic usage pattern surveys in different countries/regions. There are differences in cosmetic usage patterns among countries in the European Union, the United States, and some Asian countries. Currently, cosmetics consumption data are mainly divided into qualitative data and quantitative data. Qualitative data include types of products, user usage, usage location, etc. Quantitative data comprise the percentage of users, frequency of use, and amount of cosmetics used (per use and per day), etc. These data were obtained through methods such as questionnaires, weighing approaches, etc. During the investigation, appropriate methods were selected to obtain the corresponding types of data. SIGNIFICANCE: The findings of this study will provide a valuable reference for initiating future investigations of cosmetics usage and provide a model for subsequent assessments of population exposure to ingredients in cosmetic products.